Last month, 36 students at the University of Westminster undertook a three-day field trip to Brussels as part of their undergraduate and Masters degrees in Politics and International Relations. Here, Maisie Sheffield, third-year BA Politics and International Relations student, and Selma da Luz, an MA student studying Diplomacy and Global Politics, reflect on their experience.

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During the trip we had the opportunity to visit the European Commission, European Parliament and NATO Headquarters, all of which are based in Brussels. This trip served as an important reminder of the increasing need for international organisations and cooperation at a time of global instability, and provided us with the unique opportunity to learn from those that work within these institutions. The experience allowed me to consolidate and reflect on my own knowledge from two years studying at Westminster, and apply it to reality. The opportunity to visit these institutions and speak with staff members about their roles and career paths was not only inspiring and a great networking opportunity as a student in my penultimate year, but also allowed me to visualise what direction my future could look like after I graduate.

At the European Parliament we toured the Hemicycle, which was fascinating to see in person. We also had an insightful lecture on the importance of the European Parliament in promoting democracy and human rights, as well as representing the interests of all EU citizens, and continuously working towards international cooperation.

At the European Commission we had two insightful lectures led by Commission staff members. First, we discussed the changing future of Europe, including the EU as a key role player in international relations and the four key functions of the Commission. I was particularly keen to understand the Commission’s policy and budget implementation, in shaping EU priorities. Secondly, we discussed EU enlargement, focusing on candidate countries and Brexit’s impact. I asked if there were concerns over countries following the UK’s footsteps, but the reply was that Brexit had had the opposite effect and EU enlargement has become more heavily favoured. They suggested there has been renewed interest in enlargement and greater focus on defence and energy security.

Next, we visited NATO Headquarters, an incredible opportunity to understand its increasing importance in facilitating global peace, as well as explore future job opportunities myself. Visiting NATO was a unique experience. Rather than being in a visitors’ centre, we spent the day in the Public Square in NATO’s library, not far from the Secretary General’s office and main press theatre. We met with three NATO staff members, all of whom were happy to discuss their roles within the organisation. The first session opened up an important conversation about the history behind NATO, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the Annexation of Crimea, to the upcoming Hague Summit, which will focus on NATO’s new targets. The next session focused on NATO’s partnerships, specifically in the Southern neighbourhood, where questions were also raised over NATO’s role in middle east peace protests. The final session focused on future opportunities to work for NATO, most importantly the opportunities for us as young people, who often feel like the doors to such large international organisations are difficult to open. This opportunity to go to NATO and speak with those who work for the organisation was an invaluable experience, and I now plan to apply for their upcoming internship programs upon completion of my degree.

On our last day, we spent the morning at the Irish College in Leuven, receiving lectures on the challenges facing the EU and European external action in a time of geopolitical crisis, which was a highly thought-provoking way to end the trip.

Maisie Sheffield

BA Politics and International Relations

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The field trip to Brussels represented an opportunity to learn about European and transatlantic politics. Through visits to central institutions such as the European Parliament, European Commission and NATO Headquarters, students had the opportunity to observe and understand the political dynamics that shapes international politics in the modern world. During the visits, presentations were held by experienced professionals with not only theoretical experience but also practical experience in fields such as defence policy, international cooperation, diplomacy and academia.

When studying International Relations, we often spend a lot of our time reading academic literature and policy papers, which can sometime feel a long way from the ‘real world’. However, being physically present in the city where important decisions are made brought theoretical material to life. This was especially true during the visit to NATO Headquarters, where we had the opportunity to hear from interns and how they made their way into the field. Due to the small size of the group, the visit felt more personal and intimate.

In addition to the professional opportunities of the trip, there was set aside time to explore the beautiful city of Brussels and the charming city of Leuven. The location of the accommodation in Leuven was central and ideal to walk around the city. Although the schedule was tight, we had time to visit famous monuments and experience the local Belgian cuisine. Overall, the trip to Brussels was a great opportunity to experience the city life, as well as deepen our understanding of policy making, diplomacy and peacebuilding and get an insight into how these international organisations work in practice.

Selma da Luz

MA Diplomacy and Global Politics

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Thank you to the Politics and International Relations academic team and the students for this article!

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